InclusiveBusiness.net

The platform for IB practitioners Managed by iBAN

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17

Finding innovative funding

How inspiring women founders and investors are turning the tide

GRAPHIC SUMMARY

Learn more about inspiring women entrepreneurs and innovative investors by reading this seventeenth edition of the online magazine on Inclusive Business! The illustration was developed by Christopher Malapitan, a visual practitioner and trainer based in Brussels. Through the use of visual storytelling methods he empowers individuals and organizations to “see” what they mean.

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Inclusive Business Action Network
The Inclusive Business Action Network (iBAN) is a global initiative supporting the scaling and replication of inclusive business models. Through its strategic pillars iBAN blue and iBAN weave, iBAN manages an innovative online knowledge platform on inclusive business (inclusivebusiness.net) and offers a focused Capacity Development Programme for selected companies and policymakers in developing and emerging countries. iBAN creates a space where evidence-based knowledge transforms into learning and new partnerships. With its focus on promoting the scale-up of inclusive business models, thereby improving the lives of the poor, iBAN is actively contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. iBAN is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union. It is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ib-action-network/
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editorial

Optimism and frustration, celebration and caution: the rising tide of women entrepreneurs taking their place in business and finance

In her editorial, Caroline Ashley discusses why advances in funding for women entrepreneurs provide reasons for both optimism and caution, focusing on both the vibrancy of innovation and new solutions and the work that still remains to close the gap.

Caroline Ashley

Table of contents

graphic summary

GRAPHIC SUMMARY

Learn more about inspiring women entrepreneurs and innovative investors by reading this seventeenth edition of the online magazine on Inclusive Business! The illustration was developed by Christopher Malapitan, a visual practitioner and trainer…

Christopher Malapitan

editorial

Optimism and frustration, celebration and caution: the rising tide of women entrepreneurs taking their place in business and finance

In her editorial, Caroline Ashley discusses why advances in funding for women entrepreneurs provide reasons for both optimism and caution, focusing on both the vibrancy of innovation and new solutions and the work that still remains to close the gap.

Caroline Ashley

feature story

Finding innovative funding: Unlocking capital for women founders

Women founders are building inclusive and innovative businesses that serve the traditionally underserved around the globe. However, many women still struggle to receive the capital they need to grow their businesses. This issue of CLUED-iN features several groundbreaking women business founders, from Ajaita Shah who developed an all-woman sales force in rural India, to Brigitha Faustin, whose sunflower oil is produced mainly by women in Tanzania. It includes a range of insights from entrepreneurs, gender smart investment experts, investors, and women capital allocators, who examine what it will take to narrow the gender funding gap and support women founders around the globe.

Alexandra Harris

Talking #InclusiveBiz No. 3: Impacting the growth trajectory of women founders through innovative initiatives, such as Global Scale Up X

In the third episode of the iBAN podcast Talking #InclusiveBiz, Susann Tischendorf from iBAN speaks with Jona Repishti and Amanda Epting, Managers at MIT D-Lab, about their inspiring work on solving crucial global gender financing challenges and about the importance of incorporating inclusive innovation processes into the work of practitioners. In particular, they highlight why innovative storytelling approaches, like the one of the Global Scale Up X Instagram channel recently launched by MIT D-Lab and iBAN, are important in helping smooth the entrepreneurial journeys of female entrepreneurs.
Podcast
Talking #InclusiveBiz No. 3: Impacting the growth trajectory of women founders through innovative initiatives, such as Global Scale Up X
Podcast interview by Susann Tischendorf with Jona Repishti and Amanda Epting, Managers at MIT D-Lab
Susann Tischendorf

Why we need multiple flavours of capital for inclusive gender-smart business

Suzanne Biegel, a global leader in gender smart investment, explains how women entrepreneurs can benefit from multiple types of funding. She also discusses the role of storytelling in making the business case for investing in women.
Interview
Why we need multiple flavours of capital for inclusive gender-smart business
Interview with Suzanne Biegel, Founder of Catalyst at Large, Co-founder of GenderSmart
Alexandra Harris

“How much ease can we create?”: Developing financial solutions for rural women

Chetna Gala Sinha founded Mann Deshi Bank and Foundation to help a woman blacksmith in rural India save for a tarpaulin cover. In her interview, she discusses how new financial solutions and credit rating tools should be tailored to women-owned businesses.
Interview
“How much ease can we create?”: Developing financial solutions for rural women
Interview with Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder of Mann Deshi Bank and Foundation
Alexandra Harris

Why traditional investment indicators don’t always apply

Nathalie Aldana, who founded a business in Sweden selling dried fruits and jams sourced in Colombia, reveals why inclusive businesses may value performance indicators that don’t directly fit with traditional investment models.
Interview
Why traditional investment indicators don’t always apply
Interview with Nathalie Aldana, Founder of Nathalie’s Direct Trade
Alexandra Harris

Shifting capital towards women’s economic empowerment

Jessica Espinoza, Chair of the 2X Challenge, explains why investing in funds and platforms that invest in women through gender-smart business is one of the best ways to scale the impact of capital.
Blog post
Shifting capital towards women’s economic empowerment
Blog article by Jessica Espinoza, Vice President for Private Equity & Venture Capital Investments at DEG/KfW and Chair of 2X Challenge
Jessica Espinoza

Overcoming gender barriers and supporting female farmers in Tanzania

Many investors expect you to spend 100 per cent of your time on your company, says Brigitha Faustin, founder and CEO of OBRI Tanzania. In this interview, she shares how she balanced life and family and how the Tanzanian government supports women founders.
Interview
Overcoming gender barriers and supporting female farmers in Tanzania
Interview with Brigitha Faustin, Founder and CEO of OBRI Tanzania
Katharina Münster

Choosing the right type of funding to make a lasting impact on female artisans

Reese Fernandez-Ruiz discusses scaling and funding for inclusive businesses and how Rags2Riches supports women artisans beyond providing livelihoods in the Philippines.
Interview
Choosing the right type of funding to make a lasting impact on female artisans
Interview with Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, President and Co-founder of Rags2Riches
Hong Anh Dao

Creating more tables, not just seats at the table: Narrowing the gender funding gap by investing in women capital allocators

In Africa, there are many startups led by women, but these enterprises often have trouble accessing finance. In her interview, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes shares how Aruwa Capital Management opens up funding and opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Interview
Creating more tables, not just seats at the table: Narrowing the gender funding gap by investing in women capital allocators
Interview with Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, Founder & Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management
Alexandra Harris

Investing in women is smart business and key to poverty alleviation at scale

Ajaita Shah discusses why investing in women has a strong impact on poverty alleviation, and how she has empowered a network of women sales agents in rural India through her enterprise, Frontier Markets.
Interview
Investing in women is smart business and key to poverty alleviation at scale
Interview with Ajaita Shah, Founder of Frontier Markets
Alexandra Harris

Empowering women-focused businesses by tying investment to impact assessment

Robert Kraybill explains how IIX developed the first Women’s Livelihood Bond which limits risk for investors and ties investment to impact on women’s livelihoods in multiple countries.
Interview
Empowering women-focused businesses by tying investment to impact assessment
Interview with Robert Kraybill, CIO of Impact Investment Exchange - IIX
Alexandra Harris

Voices of global female entrepreneurs

Which challenges have female founders tackled, what have they experienced, and what have they learned? In this Voices piece, four successful women entrepreneurs featured in the Impact Stories series share their stories.
Blog post
Voices of global female entrepreneurs
Susann Tischendorf

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